What's government role in economic development?

County Councilmen are thinking creatively about that question. Why? Because we know that property planning and taxpayer-funded economic development are both hot buttons that can light local hair aflame with their mention.

We understand that most are feeling disenfranchised by national political leaders who've abandoned logic, imposed their self-interests and failed horribly to demonstrate any sort of economic discipline. For good reason, many, if not most, now believe that anything (any) government puts its hands on is probably doomed. All of us on the Council get that. I've actually had this black-humored quote by George Will hanging on my office wall for years: "World War II was the last government program that really worked."

I do, however, believe that if risk were completely eliminated so that property planning could, with absolute certainty, be managed with fair play and economic efficiency - opposition would wither. Same with economic development: if we could all be absolutely certain that spending would actually create jobs - few would quibble. But meanwhile, let's be clear. While risk and fear of failure may be at the core of our local cynicism, the world around us understands that managing resources is intelligent business and increasingly some will find advantage in our timidity to embrace that fact.

WWII's economic devastation left America with a competitive edge that found us leading the world in every meaningful measurement of progress for over 40 years. Now, economic theorists say with reasonable certainty that Singapore will be the world's next economic center and it will happen within our children's lives. Do you think Singapore's government isn't playing a huge role in that evolution?

So, how do we compete from our rural vantage in this new world? Local agricultural land is already being squandered to urban creep. That is subtle but devastating erosion which can never be undone. Agriculture is something we do really well here in Montgomery County. As such, it's one of the most critical arrows in our economic quiver. Can we afford to ignore that our fragile wide-open spaces have made local agriculture a target on an increasingly short list of potential opportunity that can't easily defend against urban sprawl, landfill projects, high pollution-risk enterprise and frenetic development that, in truth, nobody else wants?

Our competitors cheat and the USA no longer makes the rules. Sure the risks are daunting, and we on the Council certainly understand what could go wrong challenging the status quo. Increasingly, we're weighing those risks with common sense and opting to speak out. I think this approach is superior to inherent suspicion and political sabre rattling that only promises worst-case disaster. Recently, I've found tremendous optimism in local government's proactive pivot away from the provincial. We're getting smarter and better while at the same time tightening our belt. Progress?

Consider MCED's new staff, reorganized board, and focused action committees who, with city and county leaders, have contributed countless hours to creating an achievable plan for job growth that benefits all of Montgomery County. These volunteers are our very best and together they view our local potential with world-wide economic perspective. They are bold while recognizing risks and understand that successful solutions demand accountability leavened with fair play. Opponents say: economic strategy be damned, government is only capable of squandering resources and pirating constitutional rights.

Obviously Tom is not well versed in agriculture, much like Rhonda Walker is not well versed in facts. (no way Montgomery County has lost 46,000 acres, which is 72 sq. miles).

Modern farming has more than made up in the pittance of acreage lost to country homes. Crop yields have more than made up for any losses. Where a true loss has come is the federal and state mandate to turn corn into ethanol for fuel. Taking out this much corn from the market has led to high food prices and less food stuffs exported to other countries.

The true question here is where is the fear and cynicism? It is with government's unending quest for control of citizens liberties and rights.

So, what is the opposite of progress? Government. Yes, it is that plain and simple. And what would Planning and Zoning do? Place government in charge of our property.

Mr. Utley here shows his true allegiance for United Nations Agenda 21 implementation. It seems right since he work for the UN in the past.This comment has been hidden due to low approval.

I must humbly disagree with Mr. Utley on his conclusion. This "fear and cynicism" by the taxpayers of Montgomery County is well founded. These sorts of promises have been made by our local government many times before in just the last decade, only to go unfulfilled. Every time our local government enacts one of these initiatives we lose more and more of our freedom and also millions of our tax dollars.

The Commerce Park is a classic example. Back in 2006 promises were made that the millions spent on the Commerce Park would pay off, that it was "being positioned as a lightning rod for technology based and light manufacturing business," and that, "the city is planning on the park becoming a primary driver of future economic development in the area," and it would provide an opportunity for the city "to compete for the kinds of organizations that are going to come here." It was projected the Park would create 2000 jobs, with projected wages of $47 million per year.

Seven years later, no business has come. Where are those 2000 jobs? The first prospective tenant, Polyglot, was a disaster and cost the city $350,000 with nothing to show for it. The only way we could get an actual tenant there was to build a $5 million building to essentially bribe Ivy Tech to move there.

Montgomery County Economic Development corporation is another classic example of government spending gone wild. The County taxpayers have given it over $800,000 over the years, and yet MCED cannot provide any proof it has created $800,000 in benefits to the county.

Why should the citizens now trust the local government with trying to manage the economy through government-controlled land management. They've been wrong every time.

Instead, let's try liberty: give people the freedom to cooperate among themselves, to work out their own problems for themselves, to build lives for themselves, take risks and accept responsibility for the results and make their own decisions. History has shown this as the most successful way to generate real prosperity in our society. Liberty does not dictate any particular social or economic outcome. It instead trusts in the spontaneous order that emerges when the government doesn't interfere in human volition and human cooperation.

As Ronald Reagan reminded us, the most frightening words to a taxpayer are, "I'm from the government, I'm here to help."This comment has been hidden due to low approval.